The first pairs of jeans were designed for blue-collar workers. Over the course of the 20th century, the working-class pants have transformed into fashion icons and become popular around the world. However, each new pair you buy has a much higher cost than
you might think.
Every pair of jeans takes about
0.7 kilograms of cotton. Growing this much cotton requires roughly 10,000 liters of water, not to mention various herbicides and pesticides, which can pollute groundwater. Typically, plastic fibers are mixed with cotton threads to increase comfort and flexibility. In order to dye the cloth, chemical sprays and several cycles of acid-washing are adopted, discharging toxic pollutants into rivers and even turn them into indigo-blue. Also, there are the zippers, buttons, and rivets made of copper and other metals, whose mining is yet another source of environmental degradation. All in all, the manufacturing(制造) process for a single pair of jeans emits over 33 kilograms of carbon ——the equivalent of driving over 110 kilometers.
Like many globally produced products, jeans are made in poor countries and bought in rich ones. Much of the world's cotton is grown in developing countries, with poor labor practices and few protections for workers. Cotton here is often picked by children or forced labor. And their health may be threatened by poisonous chemicals during production. Because of the fast-paced and rough manufacturing with unnatural materials, today, most pairs last no longer than a year. Like most waste, discarded jeans end up in landfills, where their decomposition releases greenhouse gas. Some governments are pursuing policies to make companies more responsible for worker pay and welfare, but unsustainable practices still run crazy throughout the fashion industry.
1） Who may be the first consumers of jeans?
2） Why are plastic fibers used when pairs of jeans are made?
3）Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Jeans are made in poor countries, where workers' health is well protected.
4） What suggestions would you give to reduce the damage caused by jeans? (In about 40 words)
